Livestock Sector in India : Agenda for the Future

Livestock sector plays a critical role in the welfare of India's rural population. It contributes nine percent to Gross Domestic Product and employs eight percent of the labour force. This sector is emerging as an important growth leverage of the Indian economy. As a component of agricultural sector, its share in gross domestic product has been rising gradually, while that of crop sector has been on the decline. In recent years, livestock output has grown at a rate of about 5 percent a year, higher than the growth in agricultural sector. This enterprise provides a flow of' essential food products, draught power, manure, employment, income, and export earnings. Distribution of livestock wealth is more egalitarian, compared to land. Hence, from the equity and livelihood perspective it is considered an important component in poverty alleviation programmes.